Martlets Battle Knights

Westminster hit the road for just the second time this season, making their way along Route 44 out to Salisbury. With the first game against the Crimson Knights canceled due to the weather, the young Martlets were eager to test their mettle against one of the better teams on their schedule in previous years. Despite a short bench and several equipment challenges, the team more than held its own. Shoutout to the Salisbury coaches for helping three of our players get properly equipped. Otherwise, our short bench would have been even shorter. The first period was a back-and-forth affair. Both goalies traded saves until Salisbury finally broke through for a 1-0 lead with 2:13 remaining. The Knights added to their lead just 1:34 into the second period. Falling behind did not sit well with the Martlets, so they tightened up defensively and took advantage of the long change to maintain possession in the offensive zone. A few minutes of steady pressure led to Westminster scoring its first goal at the 10:33 mark. Arthur Lilley ‘27 hit Henry Norton ‘29 with a beautiful stretch pass through the middle of the ice, sending him in all alone on the Salisbury netminder. Norton buried the opportunity, scoring high-glove with a quick snap shot. Back-and-forth play resumed until Westminster tied the score 2-2 with 4:00 left in the middle frame. Luke Champoux ‘28 continued the stretch pass strategy, firing a pass from the defensive zone up the wall to a waiting Will Gallagher ‘27 on the far blue line. Gallagher took several hard strides towards the net, ultimately letting go of a wrister that beat the goalie to the far post. The 2-2 tie set up a deciding third period, with several boys asking about OT and potential shootout scenarios during the ice cut. Unfortunately, neither was needed, as Salisbury took the lead for good with just over five minutes left. Playing mostly from their defensive zone as the clock wound down, Westminster was unable to freeze the puck or get the goalie off the ice for an extra attacker. Salisbury managed a fourth goal with under a minute to play, as the exhausted Martlets finally ran out of steam. Despite the final score, the team played some of its best hockey of the season. Ryden Maeda ‘29 and Derek Waddell ‘27 combined for a strong outing in net, and Martlets up and down the lineup contributed to a gritty effort to be proud of. Next up, Westminster makes the short trip over to Avon on Wednesday to face the Winged Beavers for the second time this season.